Grimm Tales

Game Master Red Velvet Tiger

A dark fairytale-based campaign where heroes stand against The Five, a coven of five evil witches whose sinister schemes threaten the known world.


651 to 700 of 826 << first < prev | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | next > last >>

Neils D. Lafont wrote:
Whirrun Bligh wrote:
My point is that ugly =/= scary, sometimes ugly things aren't scary and beautiful things are.

I can attest to that.


Ah no I don't let it happen in every circumstance, only in interrogations. I should have clarified that. Although in my experience unless you're completely focused on it intimidate is very poor combat option.

Have you read Game of Thrones? A lot of torture/interrogations take place by ugly, dumb characters who are terrifying because of how detached from humanity they are. Their very detachment is what is so terrifying, their complete inability to empathize with other human beings.


Whirrun Bligh wrote:
Ah no I don't let it happen in every circumstance, only in interrogations. I should have clarified that. Although in my experience unless you're completely focused on it intimidate is very poor combat option.

True, though if you like intimidating a whole lot you can pick up Cornugon Smash and intimidate people constantly while full attacking.

Whirrun Bligh wrote:


Have you read Game of Thrones? A lot of torture/interrogations take place by ugly, dumb characters who are terrifying because of how detached from humanity they are. Their very detachment is what is so terrifying, their complete inability to empathize with other human beings.

Their detachment from humanity is certainly difficult to quantify as a bonus using game terms. Certainly it seems at first to be directly Charisma related, however a rock is also detached from humanity and I find little to nothing to fear from it (in fact I cannot recall having ever been coerced by a rock).

Which leads me to the conclusion that it is horrifying because humans are normally not supposed to be devoid of total empathy, and they press that fact to their advantage. I'd perhaps then call it an inherent bonus from being dead on the inside.

On a similar note, the protagonist from Dexter is completely devoid of empathy (being a text book sociopath and all) and is far from naturally terrifying. In fact, many viewers find his madness to be unassuming and, dare I say it, attractive, rooting him on throughout his violent rampages. I have had discussions with many people who relate with his vigilantism and insist that he is a good person.

So again, it can go both ways.


Yeah, but Dexter is hot.

The rock is a bad example. That's like saying the rock is dumb because it can't do my calculus homework. It was not designed to even have the slightest capability of human empathy. It's nothing compared to the chilling realization that there's a serial killer who kills women because he wants to preserve their physical beauty, and actually thinks he's doing them a favor by preventing them from aging. Or when you see an orc chiefton give a wicked smile and twist off the leg of your companion, and you see that he enjoys the suffering.

Also, I don't just hand wave it and let any negative charisma character get the bonus. They have to explain it to me and make it make sense. There's a difference between the rage filled barbarian and the socially awkward wizard.


While this is interesting, I feel like the full convo doesn't truly belong here, on the recruitment thread.


Oooh, Monkey is here! Can we start soon? Can we?


Monkeygod wrote:
While this is interesting, I feel like the full convo doesn't truly belong here, on the recruitment thread.

Aye, you're right on that. Forgive me, I love debating these kinds of topics and got carried away. Neils, if you wish to continue this debate go ahead and PM me.


I'm curious what Monkeygod cooked up, myself.


When is the final party selection happening?


Heh, well, I'm having a crisis of build issue.

Deep Magic has two sorc bloodlines that wouldn't be terrible to cross-blood, but I'm not 100% positive I want to yet, cuz I hate that I would loose spells that way....


*sniffs the pot of Character Stew Monkeygod is cooking*

hmm... What exactly is this? I'm unfamiliar with it...


Monkeyman, what is your idea? I need to hear from you soon so I can make selections! :P


I should probably check in.

Is there any updates I need to make to my character regarding creation?


Look through the pages and find Tale Feats. Either pick one or think up an idea to propose to me. Those are only outlines for them, so do not actually put it in your statblock just yet. Also, make your own trait and tie it into you story; this will be a bonus trait. Don't remember if those were mentioned before or after you posted.

ALSO, I ASSUME EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO POST 1/DAY, YEAH?


I can post at least twice a day.


I''ll PM you later today. At physical therapy right now and very sleepy...


Aww, what for?


Ok Monkey, just so long as I get your basic outline in today! And is it just me, or are people overreacting about Tenro/Thoon? I let the characters play as a pantheon of gods and before gameplay even begins, they are ganging up on the evil character THAT I APPROVED!


Okay then, modifying crunch again, with fluff as well.

Fluffah Bahnnies!
Here's the Huntsman's background, y'all.

Spoiler:

All is quiet in the Olde Forest. The branches seem to twist upward, embracing some pagan god. The flickering lights wander aimlessly, looking for something or someone, and the mist covers everything, a burial shroud for all who died there.

One man, tall and lanky, stalks the forest. His quarry: a "troublesome" witch. By troublesome, that meant the source of missing children and monsters coming dangerously close to the borders of the Olde Forest. Too close, the man thought as he loaded his crossbow, making a satisfying click as the bolt slid into place. Suddenly, he whirled around and fired the silver bolt at a vague shadow in the mist. The shadow made a satisfying shriek, then dropped to the ground.

The man strode over to the shriveled body of the witch, which was lying still, making an-unsuccessful-attempt at playing dead. "Got you," he said softly, and the witch managed to gasp out one word-"Huntsman!"-before she got another bolt between her dirty-white eyes.

"That's me," the Huntsman replied in a gravelly voice, not used much for talking, before he walked off. That was one problem taken care of. Now to find another.
***
After being thanked extravagantly by the townsfolk and lavished with praise after praise, the Huntsman hit the road. Walking along the dusty road along near the fringes of the Olde Forest, with the noonday sun beating down on his back like a drum, the hunter had time to think-and he should probably do some thinking, considering he was going back to the place of his birth.

There, he was raised to be a guide for all the foolish travelers who decided cut across dangerous swathes of land. It invariably happened: some knight-errant on a foolish quest needed to get somewhere and get somewhere FAST, and they hired a guide to get them to there quickly.

It was dangerous work. Even waving a massive blade around in the general direction of the monsters that inhabited the Olde Forest and other such places wasn’t enough to deter the monsters. It took skill, and knowledge of the forest. The traditions there. Who you could trust a meal from, and who you couldn’t. The arrogant knights generally don’t listen to you, though, and you have the idiots half of the time.

Lonok, as he was known as back then, was the top of his class. He was savvy, he was fast, and when all else failed, he was a quick draw and a good shot with a crossbow. Lonok had a record of the most knights surviving the Olde Forest, and his reputation preceded him. Knights and other rich travelers paid large sums of gold to get Lonok to transport them safely across the forest, though Lonok preferred to get peasants and such across the Olde Forest. They were always better company than arrogant knights, listened to what he said, and, in Lonok’s mind, always had more noble of a goal than the most chivalrous knight: whether to stand by their dying mother, or to come to their daughter’s wedding.

When Lonok had taken an older couple to their home village to see their granddaughter’s birth, everything changed. Lonok decided to stay to witness the joyous occasion, and took great joy in seeing the older couple dance and cavort like they were small again at the party. This is why I do what I do, Lonok thought as a rare smile crossed his grizzled face as he watched from the brush, Not to help some knight in shining armor save the princess or the world. I do this to help small joys like this come to be. As he thought this, he let his guard down… and then the bandits swept in from the forest.

Lonok watched in horror as the bandits razed the town town, turning the wooden village into a massive blaze, and slaughtering everyone there-including the old couple and their grandchild. The bandits then left, looking disappointed. The small town, without a name, had almost no loot in it.

Lonok suddenly realized that he could so much more good in the world if he not only guided-if he protected as well. And there, in the ruins of a destroyed town, Lonok made an oath: “I forsake the name Lonok. I will be the Huntsman, and I will hunt the evil men and fey that wreak such mindless destruction.”

For a year, the Huntsman wandered the countryside “fixing problems” with a vengeance. Suddenly, he realized that without a guide, the poor would be without the small amount of joy he provided them with. So, after he took care of the immediate “problem” he decided he had better go home to find a protege that was willing to help the poor.

While the Huntsman was thinking all of this, he was jolted by a sudden though-how was he going to explain his absence!? The lead Guide always thought his antics were against tradition, but this… He would be lucky if he was shunned! But then, the Huntsman realized that the money-mongering guides could keep to themselves. All he wanted was a willing protege-not a cut of the gold. How the Huntsman would enjoy being free of the shackles of the tradition. Smiling, he quickened his pace toward town.


Please give me feedback on the fluff!

EDIT: Actually, I decided that the Huntsman is just grizzled and socially inept, and likes not to threaten anyone. So, instead of Intimidate, I'll have Knowledge (nature) +6

Also, I'm fairly sure I won't get in, so good playing all!


I'd have to read it, but I'm guessing overreacting. I'm playing the only evil character in Echoes of Eternity and there's no problems yet. Just a little healthy debate.

I thought the Thoon sounded amazing. Has he already tried to mind blast the party or reduce someone to the "Thoon is thoon" mentality?

Edit: I'll be able to post at least once a day, but I have a variable schedule, so it may be at different times.


I can post anywhere from around 10 AM Central to 2:50 PM Central, and from about 10:30 PM Central to 3-4 AM Central.

In other words, yes. 1 post a day is easily doable.


I'm a college kid with multiple opportunities throughout the day to post.


I can post probably 3/day.


Red Velvet Tiger wrote:


ALSO, I ASSUME EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO POST 1/DAY, YEAH?

1-3 times per day.

Red Velvet Tiger wrote:
Ok Monkey, just so long as I get your basic outline in today! And is it just me, or are people overreacting about Tenro/Thoon? I let the characters play as a pantheon of gods and before gameplay even begins, they are ganging up on the evil character THAT I APPROVED!

I don't care to read up on the specific case but I can at least comment on the general principle:

People tend to forget that RPGs are cooperative, teamwork based endeavors. If the Thoon character is playing an evil alignment and decides to do whatever they feel like because "lol, I'm evil" then they are missing the point of a party and rightly deserve to be criticized.

However, if they are willing to go along with the player group and form at least a working relationship with them then there is nothing to complain about.


Read an article by Rich Burlew. Just because characters/NPCs are evil doesn't mean that they can't develop relationships with other characters. Even though they may be a sociopath and/or will do anything to further their own goals, they're still people.


The Huntsman wrote:
Please give me feedback on the fluff!

Well again, it doesn't really tell us a whole lot about your character. Otherwise there's just a few technical/grammatical errors scattered throughout, though not too many.


The huntsman doesn't exactly have a huge, traumatic childhood, though I guess I'll breathe some more personality into him.

The Huntsman's Personality

Spoiler:

The Huntsman is a simple man with simple morals. He is gruff, scarred, and doesn't bother to bathe much, but he is gentle and kind. The Huntsman feels out of place in society, and feels much better roaming about in the wilderness. Not having any close friendships in his life, the Huntsman's experience in the party would be awkward at first, but he would slowly ease into the group experience. Preferring to speak with actions and not words, thinking the latter to be the worthier.

The Huntsman's Looks

Spoiler:

The Huntsman is tall and lanky. He uses a belt knife to hack at his blond beard whenever it gets too long, but doesn't really bother with it. He keeps his hair tied into a neat wolftail, and he whacks at it when it gets too long. He wears a leather jacket-not really very useful for protection-and pants to keep him warm in the mists of the Olde Forest, and underneath it he wears a chain shirt, a gift from a knight he saved. He is grizzled and covered with scars, and his blockish features mark him as unattractive.


Why are they aware he's evil? Even if they can detect alignment, I assume he has equally strong abilities to cancel that.

If he doesn't, then it's probably time for an out of game talk.


They are aware he's evil because they looked at his CS.

As I said in the thread for that game, I have faith in Ten being able to play an "evil, insane, tentacle monster" and not disrupt or mess with the party dynamics.


Monkeygod wrote:

They are aware he's evil because they looked at his CS.

As I said in the thread for that game, I have faith in Ten being able to play an "evil, insane, tentacle monster" and not disrupt or mess with the party dynamics.

Sounds like metagaming to me.

BURN THE METAGAMERS!

"But sir, what about the Witches?"

METAAAAAGAAAAAAMMEEEEERS!


Also, Arwyne, I suffered a severely crushed left big toe at work, which ended up needing to be partially amputated due to exposed bone that got infected.

This was back on Jan 10th, and I'm doing a LOT better, so much so that I am actually going back to work for a few hours tomorrow. We'll see how that goes however.


Arwyne Feywatcher wrote:
Monkeygod wrote:

They are aware he's evil because they looked at his CS.

As I said in the thread for that game, I have faith in Ten being able to play an "evil, insane, tentacle monster" and not disrupt or mess with the party dynamics.

Sounds like metagaming to me.

BURN THE METAGAMERS!

"But sir, what about the Witches?"

METAAAAAGAAAAAAMMEEEEERS!

Only if they are giving him a hard time about it in game. Otherwise they are just voicing concerns about playing along side an eldritch abomination


The game hasn't even started yet. They(well, mostly one) are assuming things about the character in game, based solely on his backstory.


Monkeygod wrote:
The game hasn't even started yet. They(well, mostly one) are assuming things about the character in game, based solely on his backstory.

I do that as well, that's the point of a backstory after all. Though obviously there is a difference between making an educated guess and telling people how there characters are going to act.

That being said I'd have some reservations about playing with an "evil, insane, tentacle monster" as well.


From what I read, I think he's mostly insane in that he might believe everything he is experiencing is just a lucid dream.

The game also looks to be about gods forming a varied pantheon, which is probably why each game has varied alignments and philosophies.


Doctor Rogers wrote:

From what I read, I think he's mostly insane in that he might believe everything he is experiencing is just a lucid dream.

The game also looks to be about gods forming a varied pantheon, which is probably why each game has varied alignments and philosophies.

Well like I said, I haven't actually studied the specific case. I'm just trying to play devils advocate and offer defense for both sides.


That was mostly a question posed to Monkey, since he's in that campaign, but thanks for the input. TSP was severely p!$$ed about it! Glad to know he's (over-) protective of me! ^_^

EDIT: About the situation, not your input!


RVT, is there anything stopping you from making a selection now?


My concept is to be much like Mr Gold/Rumpelstiltskin, at least in ability, as possible.

While I really, really like the Fair Folk racial paragon class, I am worried its power level may not hold up with the rest of the group. If I were to, for example, solely devote my powers to spell-casting, I would cast as an 11th level Sorc by 20th level. Obviously, the class isn't meant to solely focus like that, and I doubt I would anyways, but I really like the super-magickalness that is Rumple.

In Deep Magic, there's a pair of interesting bloodlines, Green and Mythic Woodland, that captures the same nature type feel that I would like as a fey while also giving me access to normal Sorc spells.

However, if I cross-blood them(and it seems to perhaps be the best choice), I suffer diminished spell casting, and can only choose 1 bloodline power/feat each time.

Are you sure we can't be gestalt RVT? :P (j/k[mostly, I'm always willing to play gestlat], don't wanna further upset you)


Cross-blooded doesn't cost you spells per day, just spells known, iirc. If you only have a very narrow range of thematically-appropriate spells (like I do, for instance), it's not a big deal.


Yay! More Once Upon a Time fans! (P.S. Rumpelstilsken/Mr. Told is my favorite character.)


Meh, stopped watching Once half way through current season, the whole Pan thing put me off. Gold is a cool guy though.


Cuàn wrote:
Meh, stopped watching Once half way through current season, the whole Pan thing put me off. Gold is a cool guy though.

Meh seconded. Outgrew its concept pretty quickly for me.


I will review and post who is in the game once we get through at the Chinese restaurant! ^_^


Good job, Cake, now you've got me hungry for rice! -_-;


Chow Mein! Teriyaki chicken-on-a-stick! Beef strips! General Tso chicken! EGG ROLLS AND FORTUNE COOKIES! BAM!

If everyone wanted, we could do gestalt, but I would compensate by beefing up the opponents even more. What does everyone say before I make selections?


I'd be down for it. I'd probably add fighter (archer) as the other class.

I'll make the trait and feat selections if I am selected.


Red Velvet Tiger wrote:

Chow Mein! Teriyaki chicken-on-a-stick! Beef strips! General Tso chicken! EGG ROLLS AND FORTUNE COOKIES! BAM!

If everyone wanted, we could do gestalt, but I would compensate by beefing up the opponents even more. What does everyone say before I make selections?

I could gestalt my character rather easily, though I will leave it up to the group whether or not the game shall become epicly powerful or not.

Would you want us to go over our backstories again if we did gestalt?


Gestalt would not make everyone epic powerful, it would just mean they have more options and I can unleash stronger stuff from the get-go. Since Monkey suggested it, I figured it may be something people would want. He seems to be a trend-setter! :P


I definitely don't want to do gestalt. I could throw a class onto of my character rather easily, it's not difficult, but I'd much rather play at this power level we are sitting at now.

651 to 700 of 826 << first < prev | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | next > last >>
Community / Forums / Online Campaigns / Recruitment / Recruitment for Grimm Tales, a very dark fairytale-based campaign All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.